Device for making facial expressions.



W. HUSTON. DEVICE FOR MAKING FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 17, I914.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PmNoaRAPr-l couwAsmNu'rofl, D. c.

WALTER: IIUs'roN,

or Toizon'ro, on'ranroyoalmna, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO BAYONE WHIPPLE, OFCI-IICAGO; ILLINOIS. j

DEVICEFOR MAKING FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.

Application filedflct ober 17, 1914. Serial No. 867,201.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTEnI-IUs'roi nof the city of Toronto, in' thecountypf York and Province of Ontario, Dominion of Y Canada, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Devices for Making Facial Expressions; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and, exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying. drawings,' which form part of this specification. 4

The present invention relates to a device for making facialexpressions in a very s11nple, and effective manner, particularly of such subjects as may be superficlally set forth upon a plane surface; and-1t hasfor its object to provide anentertainmg and amusing device for producing facial expressions suitable for theatrical productions, or advertising and other purposes.

Characteristic of this invention is, the

latitude of its application in the choice of subject to be superficially depicted upon the plane surface of the flexible support; also the facility with which achangeofsubje'ct, alterations or additions thereto,-. may be effected. The features or other portlons of the depicted subject are not only capable ofbeing distorted, but can be partially dlsplaced according to the arrangement of and the tension applied through the medium of the cords made fast to the reverse sideof the flexible support. I

The invention consists in part of the ap-,

plication and the arrangement of the tension-cords for producing motion in any de-,

sired direction, whereby through the mode of grouping the same with their operating rolls, portions having relativepositions with respect to the subject depicted upon the nexible support, are simultaneously disturbed, while the divisions of the operating mechoperated conjointly or independently, and certain details of construction, as hereinafter set forth. and illustrated in the. accompanying drawings, in which similar figures of the tension of the flexible support. Figs. 3 and 4 are views in rear elevation, showing thesupporting panel of the device, and the case containing the operating mechanism for making facial expressions, respectively, and; Fig. 5 is a detail view in vertical central section of a part of the operating mechanism on the line AA, of Fig. 4.

In carrying out my invention, I have found it to be advantageous in attaining the best results that, the proportions adapted should be in keeping with the subject to be depictedthereon; likewise, the arrangement and disposition of the operating-mechanismshould conform to the character of the subject when producing motion to form different expressions therein.

The case 1 ,within-which is contained the I the supporting. panel 2, so as to be concealed thereby, when viewed from the front. For the'purpose of increasing the 'eflect given to the facial expressions, the case 1 is movably mounted within the supporting panel 2, so as to be readily canted to one side or. the other of its vertical position, as indicated in dotted lines, in Fig. 3. -The projecting circular portion 3 of the front of the case 1, indicated in dotted line in Fig. 4, is provided at its periphery with a short bearing surface, as shown in Fig. 5. This projecting portion 3 is adapted to fit within the circular opening in the panel 2, and lies flush with the outer surface thereof and forms the supporting means whereby the case 1 may be canted to one side or the other when moved out of its vertical position, as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 3, in which the elliptical outline indicates the central opening in the circular portion of the case 1. The circular portion 3 is partially or wholly covered with a thin flexible material, such as rubber or a like substance, adapted to be made fast thereto at its edges and forming the flexible support 4, upon which is depicted the subject 5.

Pivotally mounted within the side walls tively, whereby the turning of the rolls will wind or unwind the cords made fast thereto;

Y While. -the free endsof the tension cord which are cemented or otherwise made fast to the back of the flexible support 4 the re-' verse side to that upon which is depicted'the-Q subject 5, Will produce m'otion'to form di'b j "ferentexpressions' through: distending por-i tionsadjacent to Where they are made fast" .to the flexible'support The central portion of the front of the case liis cut away suflia desired direction'fvvithout complicating the ciently to provide ample'latitude forthe operation of the-tension cords, as shown.

Togenable motion to be produced in any mechanism, there are idler-pulleysl-l, lo-

caredar the sides of the case ll 'when the; operatingrolls are located at the ends ther'e"' of. The grouping of the tension COIdS'Wlth' their respective operating rolls adrn'its of simultaneous motion to distend relative portions of the depicted subject or other por-, 'tions.; of the same to form different expres sions therein;

v of the'invention- Having d claim as new andjdeslrefto'se'cure by Letters Patent, 1s:''

1, In a device'of the character-described, a flexible support of plane extent', "a'subject superficially depicted thereon, a series of tension cords "made fast tqthe reverse side cthereofi 'and means for actuating said tenv sion'co'rds and producing motionto distend, m-portions of said flexible supportso to" Copies of this patent may be obtained for five eent's'each,"b$ afidressing'the- (iom mi'ss'ionejrlo'fiifiatnts,-

scribed invention, 'tvhatl' aregaireaageasaseas; r:the siilbject as, a

. picted thereon."

. are devi superficially depicted thereon, "a series of tension cords {ma de; fast to the reverse side thereof, and operating, rolls interacting With a tending the flexible support to-form difier-j I said, tension cords to produce motion dis-l ent expressions therein.

3. Ina device of the character described;

flexible support having afsubject superfik ciallj depicted thereon, a plurality. of teneofthecharacter described, flexible" support iof. 'plane extentfa' f'snhject 1 sion cords made fast to thereverse: side thereoffsa d tension cords arrangedin roup and said groups of tensionfi'cords,

a'dapted'to interact with their respective 01p erat 'ng rolls to produce motionsimultanemay distending portions of said flexible support rfelati-ve'to symmetrical divisions of i ferent expressions of the "si1bject'.

sions, a supportingpanel' having a'case. mov ablyfmountedtherein, said case provided a with a's rrace'er'thin fiex'iblematerial, a subject superficially depicted thereon;

series of tension cords made 'fastf to thfe re-- verse side'or said fle ible ma'teriaLand oper'i ease and adapted to interactfwith said tension 1 Toronto,ISepte1nber 17 1914; I Witness'es:

Wahingtonyl). I V

ythe'Sxibje'ct depicted thereon to "produce dif-f ati-ng rolls pi'vot ally mounted. Within; said cords,fortheipurposehereinbefore set forth.

, AL ERH N; f i 

